AIR HUNGER

[Ziggi22]

My mother in law is suffering with air hunger can anyone tell me more about this her doctor knows nothing about it and seems to think its asthma related but inhalers and steroids are not helping has to sit in garden to get breath she suffers with her thyroid and has done for a long time and on medication any advice please Ziggi

[SlowDragon Administrator]

First thing is, do you have any actual recent blood test results or your Mum in law ?

if not will need to get hold of copies.

She is legally entitled to printed copies of her blood test results and ranges.

The best way to get access to current and historic blood test results is to register for online access to your medical record and blood test results

UK GP practices are supposed to offer everyone online access for blood test results. Ring and ask if this is available and apply to do so if possible, if it is you may need "enhanced access" to see blood results.

In reality many GP surgeries do not have blood test results online yet

Alternatively ring receptionist and request printed copies of results. Allow couple of days and then go and pick up.

Important to see exactly what has been tested and equally important what hasn’t been tested yet

How much levothyroxine is your M-I-L currently prescribed?

Does she always get same brand of levothyroxine

For full Thyroid evaluation your Mum needs TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested. Also EXTREMELY important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially if she has autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's) diagnosed by raised Thyroid antibodies

Do you know if she has Hashimoto’s?

It’s most common reason in UK for primary hypothyroidism and frequently runs in families

Ask GP to test vitamin levels and thyroid antibodies if not been tested yet

Low iron or ferritin...or being under medicated on too low dose of levothyroxine can all cause air hunger

You may need to get full Thyroid testing privately as NHS refuses to test TG antibodies if TPO antibodies are negative

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and before eating or drinking anything other than water .

Last dose of Levothyroxine 24 hours prior to blood test. (taking delayed dose immediately after blood draw).

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)

Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or thyroid antibodies or all relevant vitamins

List of private testing options

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin

medichecks.com/products/thy...

Medichecks often have special offers, if order on Thursdays

Thriva Thyroid plus vitamins

thriva.co/tests/thyroid-test

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes vitamins

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

Add any results you have or come back with new post once she gets further testing

[humanbean]

Low iron and/or ferritin (iron stores) are very common causes of air hunger. They are also very commonly found in people with thyroid problems.

[Marz]

Oxygen is transported around the body in the red blood cells - where it attaches to iron molecules. Low iron = Low oxygen. If the heart detects low oxygen it can sometimes beat faster in an attempt to create more ... simple version 😷

[jgelliss in reply to Marz]

Thank You Marz . Very valuable Information .

[Cooper27]

I recently learned about a device called a Pulse Oximeter, it costs from about £20 and will tell you what your oxygen levels are. It could be worth investing in, and keeping a note of what her oxygen levels are when she is having an episode? A normal person should have a level of 94-100% apparently.

I've ordered one but I'm waiting for it to arrive. If it's any good, I can point you towards where I bought it from?

[Marz in reply to Cooper27]

This could be useful now masks seem to be becoming mandatory ! I didn't realise they were so inexpensive ...

[Cooper27 in reply to Marz]

Sorry, not sure I follow?

[Marz in reply to Cooper27]

Mask wearing can reduce oxygen levels in the blood ...

[Cooper27 in reply to Marz]

Oh right, I remember seeing something about that a few weeks ago. I can promise it doesn't I tested it out on myself because I wanted to decide for myself - 30 mins with a fabric mask and 30 mins with a surgical mask, and my levels stayed at 98/99%. Those whose oxygen levels are affected likely have something else going on (e.g. claustrophobia).

[Jazzw]

Low Vitamin B12 is also indicated by air hunger.

Some blood tests need doing—thyroid blood tests, iron tests and B12 / folate / Vit D.

[Hidden]

My thyroxine has been reduced twice at different times because of suspected overmedication with thyroxine (in the last 2 tests my TSH has been suppressed). Each time I've developed air hunger or other problems after a few months.

Having had asthma as a child it's completely different from this. With asthma it is difficult to breathe out, and often there is wheezing. An inhaler should give immediate improvement. An asthma attack also gives a sensation of panic as you struggle to breathe properly.

With air hunger there's no problem breathing out, but you have to work harder to get enough air. At one time I could go upstairs quite fast without being breathless as long as I concentrated on taking deep breaths while doing it! Even talking and forgetting to breathe deeply would make me breathless.

As others have said, it could be lack of iron or other causes, but if these are the symptoms it is NOT asthma.

[Kiwidel]

Air hunger for me has always indicated low iron.